FC PELICAN CREATE CUP SHOCK

 Euro Soccer Intermediate League Cup: 1st Round

FC PELICAN 3 SOUTHWELL CITY RESERVES 2

FC Pelican became a new club after a exodus of their players left another club to set up and are plying their trade in Division Three of the Notts Senior League, they play on the Dave Eastwood ground which is the first ground as you enter Lenton Lane, before the turning for the golf club and the now defunct Greenwood Meadows FC ground and also before you get to Dunkirk FC. I have seen matches here in the past, like in the early 1990's I once saw City & Sherwood Hospitals FC play a home match in the old Notts Alliance League and around 4 years ago, I saw the defunct Bridgford United FC play there.

The Secretary Nick Jones I had promised that I would visit and today they should have been at home in a league match v Pythian FC but when the Cup draw was made they were hosts to Division One team Southwell City Reserves.

Macca the Pelican manager, I dont think over the years Ive ever seen a team that he has managed win a game, Ive seen them draw and lose, so I think once he saw me today,he must of had thoughts of oh no, here is mister jinxman!

Before the match, there was a minutes silence in respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II and all players and supporters showed their respects.

The game kicked off and both sides were eager and up for this cup tie, both cancelling each other out and both playing well, but it looked like the homesters who were more likely to score and the visiting keeper was the much busier, as most of City's shots were directly at the FC keeper.

Half time came and soon passed as I sipped on my cuppa and Pelican were soon on the attack when a ball went to the left wing, where JAYDEN WILKES cut in and hit a low cross shot in to the far corner of the net to put his side in to a 1-0 lead after 52 minutes.

Southwell altered their formation as they pressed forward, whilst Pelican bought on fresh legs from the bench, on 73 minutes, a nice one two saw the ball ended at the feet of CHEKOU DRAMMEH who hit a screamer of a shot from 30 yards out that dipped over the keepers head and in to the back of the net to double his clubs lead to 2-0 as photo shows from above.

A couple more changes from the subs bench by the home side saw fresh legs and Southwell began to look tired as they only had 1 sub and that was their manager who came on to try and gee his side up, but in the 81st minute whilst City's attack broke down, a long ball found KLAYTON CARTY who tried to take the ball round the keeper, it hit him on the chest and back in to the  path of the attacker to finish off.

Well to be honest with 9 minutes left and 3-0, I thought the tie was done and dusted, but all credit to City who then began to play some football and were more direct and with 90 minutes on clock, they were awarded a penalty after one of their players was tripped in the box,up stepped TOM ROBINSON who stepped up and duly put the penalty away.

The next attack, saw Southwell on the front foot again when SAM ROBINSON unleashed a 25 yard shot from the right hand side of the penalty area in to the top corner of the net to make it 3-2.  The referee Rob Jones who I felt had a superb game looked at his watch as the game went in to injury time and City had one last chance that flashed across the box without any contact.

To View the 214 photos, please click this LINK